I looked in my tank and there is red algae growing on one of my rocks(along with what looks like a diatom on the same rock) and there is just a little spec on a piece of base rock. Now I believe the reason for this is that I left the lights on for longer then I should have for a few days. What should I do to get rid of it? If I should?

This is in my 10 gallon tank. It has very nice flow I believe with a maxi jet 400 and maxi jet 600. It has been set up for 10 days so I do not think the cycle has happened yet. I have not tested parameters yet but I will later today and post them if need be.

John, I wouldn't worry at all about any cynobacteria issues during the early life of a tank. Just focus on getting your alkalinity and calcium levels in check, and continue to observe the tank until the diatom bloom runs its course and then goes away.

At about that time you should begin to see signs of microfauna in the substrate, such as copepods and amphipods. Typically at this time you will start to have some coraline algae grow... assuming you did the alkalinity/calcium thing correctly... and once the coraline sets in it is unlikely cyno will ever be an issue.

Ok... I tested later today and My cycle has started I think
I asked another forum after awhile and they said to get rid of it. But I don't really trust new forums... I have been on here for awhile and I trust you all especially you pasfur. I will test my calcium(was holding off because I didn't know if I should during the cycle). I haven't any luck finding a good Alk. test kit... all I have is red sea and they are awful. So when should I add a CUC? When I get the diatom bloom...after? I have done my research but none of it seems to help after you get to it. Also pics of the Cyano

Don't Run to the Hills over this advise John, but from looking at the picture, I'd say you got your hands on a horrible piece of live rock. Did that rock come from an established tank which has had a previous problem with cyno? Personally, i'd remove that rock and give it a good scrubbing. Meanwhile, pick up an API Alkalinity Test Kit. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API) KH Carbonate Hardness Test Kit

Well I got the rock in a trade. So I don't know the origins but I was leaving on the lights for 13-14 hours a day(realized that wasn't good after a few days) it's not just that rock it is also another rock(low flow area in the back) and the third piece of LR I got doesn't seem to have any Cyano. I also tested for calcium and it was at 360ppm. I also got advice to use a turkey baster and blast it off would that be ok?

Hi John, I've had some green cyano growing on some of my rock. What I've been trying to do (it's a pain because I have to take the canopy and light fixture off to access the tank) is vacuum it off when I notice it accumulating.

I use a tube, a mesh bag, a bucket, and a rubber band. I put the mesh bag around one end of the tube and secure it with the rubber band. I put the other end of the tube in the tank, start a siphon from the end of the tube with the mesh bag in it, drop it in the bucket, and then use the suction to vacuum the cyano off of the rock. It won't clean the rock entirely, of course, and it will only come back if conditions don't change, but it appears to get rid of most of what's there. The mesh bag traps the cyano so that afterward the water in the bucket can be returned to the tank. Give the mesh bag a rinse in the sink afterward and it's good to go for next time.

I would imagine that what I've been doing is better than using a turkey baster to blow it off the rock because this exports it from the system altogether whereas blowing it off the rock doesn't remove it from the system and may allow it to take foothold elsewhere.

Would a coffee filter work? I don't have any mesh. But with the turkey baster I would suck it up and squirt in a bucket. I like your idea though. Right now my lights are off for the day for a blackout is that ok or should I turn them on? I think I'll try blackout then baster then mesh bag tuen wait for coraline and or use an additive or something... What conditions would kill it?Posted via Mobile Device

man i wish i had know this LR was going to be an issue .... if i had i would not have given it to you.... i only have a little cyno that grew my sump but none in my DT (where that rock came from) in fact that rock you got was in my tank for 4 months and other than the Coraline i never saw an issue with it....
i will be watching to see how you solve this issue so that if i get any i can cure it fast...

I don't think it is your fault. I was leaving the light on for long periods of time and the conditions were perfect for the Cyano. The rock is also in a very low flow seeming spot.

I have the lights off for a blackout. Also if I got a scarlet skunk shrimp or other shrimp would it eat up the cyano? I was thinking move the rock to a higher flow area and wait for the cycle then add my CUC of nerites. then the shrimp after a week or 2. Any suggested snails for this or another problem that may occur?

Low flow is also something that contributes to Cyano you can try changing your flow up to increase flow to the problem rocks either by moving the rocks themselves or powerheads and it might clear up on its own. Manual removal like pasfur suggested is a good idea as well but if the conditions which allowed it to thrive once are the same it will almost certainly come back. I wouldn't worry much about the cyano until your tank matures a bit seems like you are doing fine.